Folding Bicep Pistol Brace

ABSTRACT

A firearm support is adapted for connection to a firearm having a buffer tube defining a tube axis. The support comprises a first frame portion having a mounting facility adapted to connect to the buffer tube. The second portion pivotally connects to the first frame portion for pivoting about a pivot axis angularly offset from the tube axis by an acute angle. The third portion has a brace surface pivotally connected to the second portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of and claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/457,294 filed Feb. 10, 2017, entitled “Folding Bicep Pistol Brace,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rifle-platform pistols suffer a great problem in modern-day use since the ATF's opinion letters have struck down the ability to shoulder a brace meant for a different use. One of the biggest and most cited examples is the SB-15 “Sig Brace” which is a brace designed to be used around your forearm area on an AR-15 pistol, but provides a really terrible experience for shooting a firearm that typically weighs anywhere between 5-8 lbs, due to it putting all of the weight and recoil on your forearm. People instead used this by putting it to their shoulder like a normal stock for a while until the ATF stated by doing so you are in possession of an illegal Short Barreled Rifle.

The truth is that pistols designed on a rifle platform are meant to be fired from the shoulder, however there is nothing on the market that achieves this legally. By far the most popular rifle-platform pistol is the AR-15 as it is the most modular and widely manufactured platform in America, which is why I chose to develop this brace for that platform to start. However, I fully intend for this to be adapted to every other platform possible in the future.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

My invention in particular has 5 main features that make it extremely unique:

-   -   1. The ability to give a shooter a shoulder fired experience         without actually touching the shoulder, by using a folding arm         that extends out to the bicep muscle area and gives that         stability and weight distribution as well as felt-recoil         transfer that no other brace can give adequately. The folding         arm is key to the invention as nobody is going to want to put         something that is locked into an awkward position permanently on         their pistol.     -   2. The familiar shape: Nobody wants an AR pistol with some goofy         looking pistol brace on it. There's a reason people have been         attracted to examples like the SB-15 or the Shockwave Blade         brace—they are all very familiar in design to traditional rifle         stocks making them more attractive to put on a pistol.     -   3. The size. At its current iteration, it is just 55 mm thick         when folded up, which puts it about just 9 mm thicker than most         traditional AR-15 shoulder stocks, making it very attractive for         a pistol owner who wants a compact system to complement their         already compact firearm.     -   4. The ability for it to telescope up and down the buffer tube         just as a normal stock would, adjusting your length of pull for         shooting, using a carbine buffer tube.     -   5. The ability for the bicep clamp to adjust on an axis, as well         as fold to the side for storage ensuring that the entire brace         is extremely thin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-11 show various views of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 shows where the bicep clamp meets the bicep and allows for recoil to transfer to the arm.

FIG. 13 shows that plenty of space is allowed for the operator's hand and wrist to move freely around the pistol grip with the brace in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a new arm-to-clamp attachment that allows the use of a magnet to pull the locking bolt up to the upward position, allowing the bolt to move up and down without a spring and therefore eliminating prior tolerance issues. Dual arm connections alleviate the energy transfer load on a single arm. Passive locking insert allows the arm to stay shut when folded

FIG. 2 shows a new clamp shape that is more flat and allows for a more comfortable utilization of a gel pad to improve shooter experience against the bicep. A socket houses a clamp magnet that allows the locking bolt to slide and stay in the upward position.

FIG. 3 shows magnet housings that hold the magnets that keep the main arm's L shaped locking bolt in place. The main arm locking bolt (highlighted in red) is L shaped to aide the user in toggling the bolt in the up or down position, locking and unlocking the main arm. This has been used to eliminate the need for a spring, while keeping tolerances as tight as possible so that there is no wobble when the arm is in the locked position.

FIG. 4 shows the main arm's locking bolt in the upright position, locking the arm in the open position.

FIG. 5 shows a spring-loaded toggle that allows the user to move the brace up and down the carbine buffer tube. It can be moved down against the force of the spring to unlock the bolt from the tube, while the user slides the brace in the desired position on the carbine tube. The rear portion has been cut at an angle to help prevent the user from shouldering the brace, further aiding in ATF compliance.

FIG. 6 shows the brace in the folded position on the left side.

FIG. 7 shows a new opening which allows for a carbine/traditional AR-15 buffer tube to be used with the brace. The arm folds to the side for storage, making the overall package very compact.

FIG. 8 shows the main clamping component (1) that attaches the brace to the buffer tube. This firmly grips the buffer tube and can be loosened and adjusted down the buffer tube effectively adjusting the length of pull for the shooter. It can also allow the brace to rotate on the axis of the tube to allow the bicep clamp to take a more optimal position for the shooter. This will likely change slightly in appearance in the future, however its function of gripping the buffer tube will remain the same.

The main arm (2) connects on two different points to the main body of the brace and rotates on two axles. It holds the bicep clamp to the main body of the brace. In its current iteration, it does not extend, however I may later include the ability to adjust its length.

The locking mechanisms for the arm (3) lock by gripping the plastic protrusions on the main arm as pointed out in #6. However, this is extremely likely to change in the future as the plastic tends to wear out over time. The arm functionally will always lock back into an open position, however the method of locking is what will change.

Main buffer tube sleeve (4) allows for greater distribution of forces throughout the buffer tube to the brace rather than just at a single point. This is extremely key to the design as a single point mount not covering a majority of the buffer tube would easily bend with recoil.

Axle mounts (5) hold the main arm in place and run alongside the side of the main body, providing a good platform for energy transfer. There are four axle mounts total (two for each axle on the main arm) that hold the arm to the body and allow it to swing to the open and closed positions.

A plastic protrusion (6) works with #3 for locking in the open position. Again, likely to change in the future, however the function of the arm locking open will stay the same.

FIG. 9 shows a bicep clamp (1), the part that directly meets the bicep. This figure does not show the impact gel that is applied in post-manufacturing to the clamp. However, this is more or less just a slightly curved angled block of plastic with an extension that allows it to rotate around on an axis and lock in place when fully extended out. There are slots for bolts (2), the one on the right is the axle that allows the clamp to swivel left and right into position, and the one on the left are for locking the clamp into its desired position.

The locking mechanisms (3) shut the arm into the closed position against the brace. Axle mount supports (4) run along parallel with the arm when it is shut, provide the support necessary to withstand the recoil as it travels backwards that direction.

FIG. 10. A rear brace end stop (1) that provides a clean end to the back of the brace especially when in the folded position. Bicep clamp (2), locked into position. Main arm (3) swiveled and locked to position the main body of the brace offset to the left of where the bicep would be, closer to the shooter's cheek. Shock absorbing gel (4) meant to provide comfort for the shooter as well as a non-slip surface.

FIG. 11 shows the main body main body. Designed to look very much like a traditional shoulder stock, to give it a very familiar look and also can serve a utility function as well. As shown in FIG. 11, this is the left side of the brace. This is one of the biggest features of this product. Bicep clamp (2) folded for storage. Buffer tube attachment device (3) that holds the brace to the buffer tube and can be adjusted so that the brace can fit snug on the tube after being set into the desired position on the buffer tube. Can also allow the brace to rotate on the axis of the tube to allow the bicep clamp to take a more optimal position for the shooter.

FIG. 12. Bicep clamp meets the bicep (1) and allows for recoil to transfer to the arm as well as part of the weight of the firearm to be transferred, while providing the same rear-end stabilization you would get from a normal shoulder stock. The brace translates the pistol buffer tube to a position where it feels natural to aim down the sights just as if you were shouldering the pistol (2). Plenty of space is allowed for the operator's hand and wrist to move freely around the pistol grip with the brace on even in the fully collapsed position on the buffer tube all the way to the front (3).

FIG. 13. Plenty of space is allowed for the operator's hand and wrist to move freely around the pistol grip with the brace in the closed position (1), essential to allowing the shooter the freedom to operate the firearm even without the brace fully extended. 

We claim:
 1. A firearm support adapted for connection to a firearm having a buffer tube defining a tube axis, the support comprising: A first frame portion having a mounting facility adapted to connect to the buffer tube; a second portion pivotally connected to the first frame portion for pivoting about a pivot axis angularly offset from the tube axis by an acute angle; and a third portion having a brace surface pivotally connected to the second portion. 